Choi leads rain-delayed Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — K.J. Choi’s early tee time and quick start moved him to the top of the raindelayed RBC Heritage on Friday.
Choi shot a 67 to get to 5-under 137, one stroke ahead of Robert Allenby and two in front of a group led by former world No. 1 Luke Donald as the second round was suspended because of heavy storms.
Allenby was among 65 players still on the course when the rain hit Harbour Town Golf Links. Officials delayed the round shortly before 3 p.m. and then sent everyone home until Saturday morning after waiting through about 90 minutes of steady, heavy rain.
Allenby has 13 holes to finish when play resumes Saturday morning.
Donald shot a 69 and joined Billy Hurley III (69) and first-round trileader Scott Langley (73) in the clubhouse two shots behind Choi. Bo Van Pelt and Ben Martin were also at 3 under early in their rounds.
Masters contenders Matt Kuchar and 20-yearold Jordan Spieth faltered after their strong starts at Harbour Town.
Kuchar, who tied for fifth last week at the year’s first major, had a pair of double bogeys on his first six holes before the rains came and stood four shots behind Choi.
Spieth, a Masters rookie who tied for second at Augusta National, had a 74 and was at 1-over 143 — enough to make the projected cut of 4 over but well off his opening 69.
Choi was four shots back of first-round leaders Kuchar, Langley and William McGirt at the beginning of the day. Based on his recent play, he didn’t figure to make much of a dent in the cool, drizzly conditions.
But Choi had three birdies on the front nine, including one on the difficult, par- 4 eighth hole, to get into contention. He caught Kuchar on No. 16, rolling in a 20-footer for birdie.
Choi’s usual schedule had him return home to South Korea after the Masters to help take care of his three children. However, after hearing for years how Harbour Town might suit his game, he decided to play the South Carolina course.
“If you just hit it beneath the trees, it’s a good course to play,” Choi said. “It has very small targets, and this course is working well.”
Kuchar, the world’s sixth-ranked player, probably wished the storm had arrived sooner. His tee shot found water on the par-3 fourth hole for a double bogey. He sent his drive out of bounds on No. 6 to drop two more shots.
Kuchar opened with a steady performance — Thursday’s 66 was his lowest career round at Harbour Town — just a few days after contending in the Masters.
Allenby jumped into second after birdies on the first and second holes and was glad to get out of the inclement weather.
“It’s not fun when it’s blowing 20 miles an hour every different direction and it’s raining at the same time,” he said. “So it was nice get out of there.”
OTHER EVENTS
Greater Gwinnett Championship at Duluth, Ga.: Miguel Angel Jimenez made a dramatic Champions Tour debut, setting a tournament record with a first-round 65.
Jimenez, coming off a fourth-place finish in the Masters, overcame constant rain and chilly temperatures at TPC Sugarloaf. He shot a 6-under 30 on his first nine holes, including an eagle on No. 18. He reached 7 under with a birdie on No. 2 and closed with seven straight pars.
“Very good start,” Jimenez said. “Now it’s time for a nice, warm shower, a nice fat cigar and a glass of Rioja. ... I’m desperate to find one of my cigars and have a glass of wine.”
Defending champion Bernhard Langer, Steve Pate and Kenny Perry each shot a 68.
Fred Couples shot a 69, including a double bogey on No. 9, his finishing hole. Jeff Sluman also shot a 69.
Though light rain began soon after the round began and became more intense in the afternoon, there was no delay.
Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur: Lee Westwood shot a 6-under 66 for a four-stroke lead at 131 after the second round, but this day was all about Pablo Larrazabal.
Larrazabal was playing the 14th hole Friday when a swarm of hornets “three times the size of bees” attacked.
“They were huge, and like 30 or 40 of them started to attack me big-time,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do. My caddie told me to run, so I start running like a crazy guy. But the hornets were still there, so the other players told me to jump in the lake.
“I ran to the lake, threw my scorecard down, took off my shoes and jumped in the water,” he said. “It was the scariest moment of my career, for sure. I’ve never been so scared.”
He was stung multiple times and needed medical treatment, including injections.
Larrazabal birdied the 14th hole en route to a 2-under 68 and a 142 total at Kuala Lumpur Country Club in the European and Asian Tour event.